Note: Descriptions are shown in the official language in which they were submitted.
21 99653
SUCKER ROD CRADLE APPARATUS
Field of the Invention
This invention relates in general to sucker rods used in oil well recovery and
s more particularly to a sucker rod cradle apparatus for h~n(llin~, storing and
kansporting sucker rods.
Back~round of the Invention
Sucker rods are typically used in oil well pumping operations for driving the
lo pump to facilitate the removal and withdrawal of oil from an oil well. Several rods
may be used to form a sucker rod string and therefore large numbers of such rodsmust be stored and kansported to various drilling sites.
A common method for the handling, storage and kansport of sucker rods
comprises stacking the sucker rods between wooden boards approximately 2.5" wide15 by 30" in length with each board having grooves to space and hold a capacity of 15
rods. The boards are spaced at five standardized increments along the length of a
sucker rod which is typically 25 feet. Each tier of 15 rods is stacked with another five
boards along the length of the rod in order to add more rods to the bundle. A typical
bundle of 60 sucker rods is stacked in this manner using four tiers. The final step is
20 the addition of a fifth top board to each column in such a manner that the 1 5th groove
capacity fits into the top tier of rods. The five columns of boards are then banded
together using steel banding.
While such a method is widely used for blln(lling, storing and transporting
sucker rods, bundling the rods in this manner does little to protect the sucker rods
25 from damage. The ends of the sucker rods are prone to damage set on rough terrain.
Furthermore, this method is labor intensive and specialty equipment is required to
move, load or unload the sucker rods bundled by this method.
Another method for h~n(lling, storing and transporting sucker rods is without
the use of wooden boards. In this method 25 to 50 plain rods are banded together30 without spacers. This method will not work if scrapers or guides have been molded
onto the rod body. While this method minimi7es the potential of bending a plain rod,
it is prone to all of the problems and disadvantages encountered by the banding
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method employing wooden boards as described previously. It also has the additional
problem of having metal to metal contact of the sucker rods which can also damage
the rods.
It is therefore an object of the present invention to obviate or mitigate at least
5 one of the aforesaid disadvantages that are associated with the currently known and
used methods for handling, storing and transporting of sucker rods.
Summar,v of the Invention
According to the present invention a novel apparatus has been developed for
lo the handling, storage and transport of sucker rods. The apparatus overcomes the
disadvantages of the previously used methods for bundling, storing and transporting
sucker rods. The present apparatus enhances the protection of the sucker rods from
damage during h~n~ling, storage and transport. Although the apparatus of the present
invention allows for the use of steel banding to make individual bundles of rods, it is
15 not necessary t band the rods. As a result the apparatus makes it possible to store, add
and remove sucker rods without the need to unbundle any rods. This significantlyreduces the manpower required to handle the rods.
According to an object of an aspect of the present invention a sucker rod
cradle is provided for the storage, h~n(lling and transport of rods, the apparatus
20 comprises in combination:
-a base frame comprising spaced apart interconnected beams, the beams
having a pocket means for engagement with corresponding fork means of a forklift;
-a plurality of upright cradle arms spaced at intervals along the length of the
beams, the cradle arms extPnllin~ substantially perpendicular to the beams to contain
25 rods stacked therein;
-the cradle arms having channel means for receiving the ends of
corresponding spacer means for spacing rods; and
-means adjacent each end of the base frame for attachment of lifting apparatus.
30 Brief Description of the Drawings
A detailed description of the pl~f~ d embodiments are provided herein below
with reference to the following drawings, in which:
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Figure 1 is a perspective view showing a sucker rod cradle apparatus in
accordance with the prere,led embodiment of the present invention;
Figure 2 is a side elevational view of the apparatus in accordance with a
preferred embodiment of the present invention;
Figure 3 is an end sectional view of the cradle arms and base frame in
accordance with a prer~"ed embodiment of the present invention;
Figure 4 is a horizontal and vertical sectional view of the lifting apparatus inaccordance with a preferred embodiment of the present invention;
Figure 5 is a vertical sectional view of the interconnecting beam and the cradlelo arm base pocket in accordance with a preferred embodiment of the present invention;
Figure 6 is a horizontal sectional view of a cradle arm in accordance with a
preferred embodiment of the present invention;
Figure 7 is a perspective view showing a sucker rod cradle apparatus in
accordance with the second embodiment of the invention;
Figure 8 is a side elevational view and detail of the apparatus in accordance
with the second embodiment of the invention; and
Figure 9 is a vertical sectional view of the cradle arms and base frame in
accordance with a second embodiment of the invention;
Figure 10 is a horizontal sectional view and detail of the loading apparatus in
accordance with the second embodiment of the invention;
Figure 11 is a horizontal sectional view of a cradle arm in accordance with the
second embodiment of the invention;
Figure 12 is a vertical sectional view of the interconnecting beam and the
cradle arm base pocket in accordance with the second embodiment of the invention;
Figure 13 is a side elevational view of the sucker rod spacer in accordance
with both the present and second embodiments of the invention; and
Figure 14 is a horizontal sectional view of the bundle spacer in accordance
with both the present and second embodiments of the invention.
In the drawings, preferred embodiments of the invention are illustrated by way
of example. It is to be expressly understood that the description and drawings are
only for the purpose of illustration and as an aid to understanding and are not intended
as a definition of the limits of the invention.
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Detailed Description of the Preferred Embodiments
The sucker rod cradle apparatus 10 according to the present invention is shown
in Figures 1 and 2 . The apparatus comprises a base frame which has spaced apartparallel beams 12 and 14 interconnected by a plurality of cross members 24. The base
s frame may be slightly less than the length of the sucker rods, this being approximately
25 feet. The spaced apart beams 12, 14 have aligned pairs of pockets 16 and 18
within sleeves 17 and 19. These pockets 16 and 18 are designed to engage with
corresponding forks on a fork lift and provide a quick and easy method of handling
and moving the apparatus.
10 The apparatus has a plurality of upright cradle arms 20 spaced at substantially
regular intervals along the length of the beams 12 and 14. The cradle arms 20 extend
perpendicular from the beams preferably at the cross members 24, and are designed to
contain the vertical columns of sucker rods spacers 30 and bundle spacers 28. The
cradle arms 20 have opposing channels 22 for receiving the ends of correspondingsucker rod spacers 30 or bundle spacers 28. The channels allow one to slide the
spacers down through the opposing channels and capture the spacer ends as rods are
placed thereon.
As seen in Figure 3, the cradle arms 20 have a horizontal reinforcing base
member 24, a plurality of opposing channels 22, and a plurality of inverted channel
20 members 25 on top of which the first tier of sucker rods is placed. The horizontal
base members 24 are located between and preferably welded to beams 12 and 14. The
inverted channel members 25 are located adjacent to cradle arms 20 and directly
below opposing channels 22 forming the base pocket.
As seen in Figure 4, the pivoting U-shaped lifting arm 26 is mounted through
25 and to the outside of beams 12 and 14. The arms rotate toward the center of the
apparatus in order to be easily attached to a crane or picker using relatively short
cables or slings. The pivoting arms 23 and 26 can also rotate out an over the ends of
the apparatus and in this manner provide protection to the ends of the rods. Each arm
is connected pivotally to the beams 12 and 14 by pins 27 secured in the respective
30 dependent arm 29. The pin extends through each beam via bushing 31 secured in each beam. The pin is held in place by outside key 33.
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As seen in Figure 5, the horizontal reinforcing base member 24 has inverted
channel members 25 in which the first sucker rod spacer 30 is inserted. The inverted
channels 25 can accommodate banding (if desired) by passing it beneath the spacer 30
and through depressed portion 27.
s Figure 6 illustrates the banding slot 21 contained within the cradle arm 20.
Referring now to Figure 14, a bundle spacer 28 is illustrated. The bundle
spacer is a substantially elongated rectangular shaped member having ends which fit
into the opposing channels 22 on the cradle arms. These bundle spacers separate an
approp~iate 4 tiers of sucker rods, the number of tiers of rods being typically twelve as
lo capacity for each cradle.
Figure 13 shows a sucker rod spacer 30 which is also elongated and
rectangular and designed to fit within the opposing channels 22 of the cradle arms and
as well in the base of the bundle spacer 28. The sucker rod spacer 30 has a plurality
of grooves 32 along one longitudinal surface in which the sucker rods are set resulting
in even placement and also so that the sucker rods do not touch each other and in this
manner are not damaged. Preferably, the sucker rod spacer has 15 grooves in which
an equivalent number of sucker rods can be placed. However, it is understood by
those skilled in the art that the sucker rod spacer can be made with larger diameter or
smaller diameter grooves to accommodate a fewer or a greater number of rods per tier.
The bundle spacer 28 also includes flat bars 35 welded spaced apart in base of spacer
when the sucker rod space 30 is positioned in the bundle spacer 28, the flat bars 35
provide a gap 37 through banding may pass in forcing the bundle.
A second embodiment of the invention is shown in Figure 7. In this
embodiment the beams are made from interconnected spaced apart beams 34 and 36
as shown again in Figure 8 The spaced apart beams 34 and 36 have aligned pairs of
pockets 16 and 18 in sleeves 17 and 19 as detailed in Figure 8.
As seen in Figure 9, the cradle arms 20 have a pair of spaced apart horizontal
reinforcing base members 40 and 42 on top of which the first tier of sucker rods is
placed. These spaced apart horizontal reinforcing base members are themselves
reinforced with a vertical spacer member 46 located substantially at the center of the
cradle arm.
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As seen in Figure 10, there are no pivoting arms mounted on the outside of the
beams 34 and 36. Instead, the ends of the beams 34 and 36 are integral and connected
by a bracket 41 as per detail 2 to a horizontal bar 38 onto which a lifting apparatus
such as a winch line can be attached. The bracket 41 has a rounded recess 43 and5 brace 45 welded to bar 38 to complete the connection. The horizontal bar projects
beyond the rod ends to protect the ends of the sucker rods stacked within the
apparatus.
Figure 11 illustrates the gap or slot 21 contained within the cradle arm 20 of
the second embodiment.
lo As seen in Figure 12, the horizontal reinforcing base member 40 is an inverted
channel member in which the first sucker rod spacer 30 is inserted. The invertedchannel accommodates banding (if desired) by passing beneath the spacer 30 and
through opening 41 defined by spaced apart flat bar 49.
In operation, a first layer of sucker rod spacers are placed within the slots ofthe five cradle arms incrementally positioned along the entire length of the beams. A
first tier comprising 15 rods in total is placed into the grooves of the sucker rod
spacer. Another layer of sucker rod spacers are then positioned in the cradle arm slots
on top of the first tier of rods. A second tier of sucker rods is then set into the
grooves of the second layer of sucker rod spacers. This process is repeated until four
tiers of layered sucker rods are present. A bundle spacer is then placed within the
slots of the five cradle arms incrementally positioned along the length of the beams
and optionally banded. Another four tiers of layered sucker rods can then be stacked
before another bundle spacer is required. A total of three bundles comprising 60sucker rods can be placed within the cradle arms.
Although the apparatus of the present invention is designed to stack and hold
180 sucker rods in three bundles of 60 rods, it is understood by those skilled in the art
that the apparatus can be made larger or smaller to accommodate a fewer or greater
number of rods or accommodate shorter or longer types of rods. It is also understood
by those skilled in the art that the apparatus can hold a variety of rods including plain,
coated, guided or scrapered rods all with the same efficiency, ease and protection.
The apparatus can be made of any type of metal or metal alloy. It is preferred
that the apparatus be made of steel or similar material. The beams, cradle arms, lifting
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arms and all of the other elements of the apparatus are preferably welded together in
order for the apparatus to be strong and sturdy.
In summary, the novel sucker rod cradle apparatus of the present invention is a
great improvement over the previously known methods for h~n~1ling, storing and
5 transporting sucker rods. The design of the apparatus significantly enhances the
protection of the sucker rods from damage and also allows for holding and
transporting at one time up to three times the normal number of rods which can be
stacked and stored safely without the risk of damage to any rods. The apparatus has
built in methods by which it can be moved, loaded or unloaded. In addition, the
lo present apparatus elimin~tes the need to bundle rods with steel banding which makes
the unloading and loading of the rods easier, faster and more cost efficient. The
apparatus allows if required for the creation of rod bundles to the same standard
dimensions. As a result any bundle of rods removed from the apparatus will be
stackable in the preferred board on board method of stacking.
While embodiments of the present invention have been illustrated and
described in detail it will be evident to those skilled in the art that variations and
modifications may be made therein without departing from the spirit or scope of the
invention.
